Machine for cutting articles from sheet material.



No. 676,457. Patented lune l8, 19m. J. J. BREACH.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL.

(Application filed- July 14. 1900.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets8heet l.

. 2 F--f--m---- WITNESSES fifiwwxwglmu No. 676,457. Patented lune l8,l90l. J. J. BREACH.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL. (Application filed Jul14, 1900. (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2,

T 2 "-?-'TT7#,'., R fi i' 'wfi i' 17:12:31:

hep/@ 50 -%M No. 676,457. Patented lune l8, l90l. J. J. BREACH.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SI- IEET MATERIAL.

(Application filed July 14, 1900.)

(No Model.) 7 She'ets8heet 3.

WITNESSES lNv No. 676,457. Patented June 18, l90l.

J. J. BREACH.

MACHINE FOB CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL.

(Application filed July 14,1900.)

' 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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No. 676,457. Patented lune I8. I90I.

J. J. BREACH.

MACHINE FOB CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEET. MATERIAL.

(Applicqtion filed July 14, 1900.)

' 7 Sheets-Shoot 5.

(No Model.)

WITNESEEIS INVENTEIFK No. 676,457. Patented lune l8, l90l. J. J; BREACH.

MACHINE FOR OUT TING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL.-

(Application file'd Jul 14, 1900.

. 7 Sheet Sheet 6.

(No Ilodol.)

WITNEj/Es J a. ga {a TM: NORRIS PETERS 50.. Wu o-ufna. wumm'mm n. c.

No. 676,457. I Patented lune l8, l90l.

J. J. BREACH.- MACHINE FDR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM. SHEET MATERIAL.

(Application filed'July 14, 1900. (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

WITNESSES- lm/r-zfu-rma UNITED STATES PATENT JAMES J. BREACH, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,457, dated June 18,1901.

Application filed July 14, 1900.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JAMES J. BREACH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Machines forCutting Articles from Sheet Material; and I do hereby; declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as. will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for cutting articles from sheetmaterial, and more particularly to machines for cutting boot or shoesoles from leather, leather-board, or other suitable material.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of improvedconstruction and increased efficiency for cutting out boot and shoesoles, and more particularly to provide such a machine of the samegeneral type as is disclosed in my Patent No. 589,409, dated September7, 1897, in which one or more reciprocating cutting-knives are caused totravel about the periphery of a pattern-plate of a shape correspondingto that of the sole to be cut out.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

The machine hereinafter specifically described as embodying my inventioncomprises one or more arms or supports swinging on a common center, oneor more arms pivoted to each support and capable of a laterally-swingingmovement independent of the support, a knife-carrier on each arm sosupported thereby as to be capable of a lateral movement independent ofthe arm, a guide for controlling the movement of the arms with relationto the supports, and a pattern for controlling the movement of theknife-carriers with relation to the arms. A reciprocating knife ismounted in each knife-carrier, and the connected mechanism for actuatingthe knife is so supported by the knife-carrier, pivoted arm, and rotarysupport as to be operative throughout the path of travel of the knife.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation the upper part or headof a machine constructed Serial N0- 23,599. (No model.)

in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents in side elevation thebase upon which the head shownin Fig. 1 is mounted, Figs. 1 and 2together forming a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 3 is aview in front elevation of the base of the machine shown in Fig. 2. Fig.4-is alongit-udinal sectional view of a portion of the head of themachine and on line 6 6, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view takenon line 7 7, Fig. 4. Fig. Sis a detail plan view of the tension andtake-up device for the driving-chain, a portion of the casing beingbroken away. Fig. 9 is a sectional view'on line 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 isa sectional view on line 10 10, Fig. 6, showing the mechanism foroperating the reciprocating knife. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line11 11, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is asectional View on line 12 12, Fig. 10. Fig.13 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which thecutting-knife is mounted. Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view of thelower portion of the reciprocating knifeand its guiding mechanism. Fig.15 shows in plan view, partly in section, the driving-chain and thesprocket-wheel cooperating therewith; and Fig. 16 is a sectional view onthe line 16 16 of Fig.15.

In the drawings, A represents the head of the machine-frame,which may beof any suit able construction for supporting the operating parts, and Aa base upon which the head is mounted. Journaled in the upperoverhanging portion of the head A is a horizontal shaft B, driven in anysuitable manner, as by the pulley B. This shaft is provided with abevel-gear B meshing with a bevel-gear B carried upon the upper end of atubular shaft B", which is journaled upon a tubular shaft B rigidlysecured, as by the pin 13, in the overhanging head of the machine-frame.The shaft B carries at its lower end a large gearwheel B meshing withpinions B on short vertical shafts, from which the reciprocating knivesare actuated, as will be described. The tubular shaft B extendsdownwardly from the overhanging head of the machine, and securedthereto, as by a set-screw a, isa casting a. This casting is formed witha flat upper surface, and projecting upwardly from such surface is astud 03, adapted to form a pivotal bearing for two rotary arms (1. Thesearms constitute rotary supports for the knife carrying arms or framesand, as shown in Fig. 6, consist of hub portions embracing the stud aprojecting from the upper surface of the casting, andoutwardly-extending portions which extend beyond the periphery of thegear-wheel B The hub' portions of these arms are reduced to one-half thethickness of the outwardly extending portions and are held upon the studon the casting a by means of the plate a, screwed upon a projectingportion of the stud and locked in position by the screws a passingthrough the plate and entering screw-threaded holes in the top of thestud. V,

Pivotally mounted at the outer end of each of the arms 0, so as to becapable of a lateral swinging movement, is an arm or frame D, from whichthe knife-carrier is supported. Each frame consists of a body portionhaving the in Wardly-extending projections cl and 61 The pivotalconnection between the frame D and the arm 0 is constructed as follows:01 is a hollow stud seated in the projection d and rigidly held thereinby the set-screw d". The end of the stud 61 extends above the uppersurface of the projection d and through the arm 0, a washer d beinginterposed between the arm and the projection d. The arm 0 is held onthe stud between the washer d and a washer d secured to the top of thestud, the

- washer d having a screw-t1] readed connection with the stud, wherebyit can be adjusted to take up any wear between the arm and the washers.

Journaled to the hollow stud d is a vertical shaft 19, having securedthereto at its upper end the pinion b before referred to, and providedat its lower end with a crank b. The crank-pin b of this crank connectsby means of a ball-and-socketjoint with a link b connecting by means ofa second ball-and-socket joint with a bell-crank lever b pivoted on theinner wall of the frame D and actuating the knife, as will be described.The end of the crank-pin and one end of the bell-crank lever areprovided with balls which enter suitable sockets in the link b to formthe ball-and-socket joints referred to, and as a means for taking up anywear in the parts the inner sides of the sockets are formed by blocks bb, arranged to slide in the link and adjustable toward the balls bymeans of a screw-threaded rod one end of which is seated in the block I)and the other end of which has a screw-threaded engagement with theblock b The rod 12 is provided with a knurled disk 5 by which it may berotated to adjust the blocks.

A stud E extends downwardly from the head or frame D, being secured tothe frame by a nut on the upper screw-threaded end of the stud, whichpasses up through a hole in the projection (P. This stud is hollow toact as a bearing for a reciprocating rod 6, which forms a part of theknife-carrier. The upper end of the rod e has a swivel connection withone arm of the bell-crank lever b, as is clearly shown in Fig. f. Thearm of the bell-crank is forked and journaled in the fork is a pivotpin1)", through a slot in which the reduced upper end of the rod e passes,suitable holding and locking nuts on the upper end of the rod supportingit in position. By this construction the rod e is reciprocated by thebellcrank b and is free to turn on its axis. Extending laterally fromthe rod 6 is an arm 6, in which the swiveling knife-blade e is mounted.The swivel-mounting for the knife is formed by the cylindrical block 9jonrnaled in the outer end of the arm 6 and slotted to receive theknife-blade. The knife is held in the block by a set-screw e in theblock 6, through which the block 6 passes and which extends through anelongated slotin the outer end of the arm 2. The set screw passesthrough the block 6 and through a slot in the block 6 to engage theknife to thereby hold it in position in the block 6 which is supportedin the arm 2, so as to be capable of a limited rotary movement on itsaxis, by the block a Surrounding the stud E is a cylindrical casing F,held thereon bya washer F, secured to the lower end of the stud andengaging a shoulder formed in the lower end of the easing. This casingis slotted at one side and through the slot the arm 8 extends. At itslower end the casing is provided with laterally-extending arms ff, andbetween these arms a block f is rigidly held by means of the clamp-screwf. Loosely journaled in the outer end of the block f is the'knife-guide,consisting of a slotted cylindrical block f provided at its lower endwith a grooved guiding-block f for engaging the pattern. The knife 6passes loosely through the block f and one side of the knife is engagedby a spring-pressed pin f mounted in a block f through which the block fpasses. The spring-pressed pin passes through an opening in the block fto engage the knife, and the block f passes through an elongated slot inthe end of the block f", rigidly secured to the casing F. By thisconstruction it will be seen that the block f is held in the arm formedby the arms ff and block f by the pinf' and that it is capable of alimited rotary movement about its axis. A pinf, projecting from the pinf through a slot in the blockf allows for the retraction of the pin fand the removal of the block f The main object of the pin f however, isto form a yielding stop for the knife, the function of which will appearhereinafter.

The rod 6, with its arm 6, and the casing F, with its armsffand blockf,constitute a carrier for the knife 6 and this carrier is free to swinglaterally about the axis of the stud E as a center, one side of the studE being cut away, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12, to allow this swingingmovement of the arm e.

IIO

The carrieris actuated to hold the knifeguide in contact with thepattern by a spring arranged to act on the casing F. This spring isshown in Figs. 10 and 11, in which g represents a coiled spring havingone end secured to the stud E and the other end secured to a barrel g,loosely journaled on the stud E and provided with a projection g adaptedto engage a projecting portion g of the easing F. During the operationof the machine the knife guide will normally be pressed against thepattern by the action of the spring.

The knife-carrier can be swung backward against the force of the spring,and to lock the parts in their retracted position Iprovide the lockingdevice, (shown in Fig. 12,) consisting of a spring-pressed pin 9 carriedby the casing F or a block F secured thereto,

adapted to engage a notch 9 formed in the cut-away side of the stud E.The spring g normally forces the pin outwardly. To look the parts intheir retracted position, the pin is pressed in until its flanged innerend is in line with the notch g The casing is then released, and as itmoves under the action of the spring 9 the flanged end of the pin entersthe notch and is retained thereby.

In the construction as above described it will be seen that theknife-blade is carried by a spring-pressed laterally-swinging armpivoted on a laterally-swinging arm or frame, pivoted in turn on arotating support, whereby the path of travel of the knife will be theresultant of the component movements of these parts. The movement givento the arms 0 is one of rotation,and since the pivot of the arms isfixed the outer ends of the arms will travel in the arc of a circle. Byhaving the axes of the arms and of the gearwheel B coincide the pinionsB at the outer ends of the arms will always be in engage- 'ment with thegear B as the arms are swung about their pivots, and by the connectionsabove described between the knives and shafts b, to which the pinionsare secured, the mechanism for reciprocating the knives will beoperative throughout the path of travel of the knife.

The movement of the knife-carrier with relation to the frame D may beand preferably is controlled by a pattern-plate in substantially thesame manner as in my Patent No. 589,409. This pattern-plate is shown atH and is secured to a presser-foot O in substantially the same manner asin my patent above referred to.

The movement of the frames D with relation to the arms 0 is controlledby a combined driving and guiding mechanism whereby the arms 0 arerotated upon their pivots and at the same time those portions of theframes D to which the knife-carriers are connected are moved in a pathapproximating the shape of the path in which the knife travels.Projectingupwardly and inwardly from the frame D' is an arm D, having apivotal connection with a frame I, by means of a stud secured to thebottom plate of the frame by a screw 2'. The frame I is provided with achain-tension and take-up device, as will be described, and thepivot-pin i for the arm D is in a direct line with the portions of thechain leading from the frame. On the upper plate of the frame I is aguide-roll 01 the axis of which coincides with the axis of the pivot-pint and which cooperates with certain guides, to be described, as theframe travels with the chain. The axes of the roll t and pin 2' alsocoincide with the axis of the rod (2 of the knife-carrier, whereby thepath described by the guide-roll will determine the path of travel ofthe knife-carrier.

Supported from the under sideof the overhanging head of themachine-frame are horizontal guide-rails J J and adjustably supported inguide-slots cut in the inner surface of said' rails are blocks J J (SeeFig. 4.) The block J has journaled therein a short vertical shaft Jcarrying at its lower end a sprocket-wheel K and at its upper endprovided with a work-gear J meshing with a worm J on a shaft Jconnecting with the shaft B by means of the intermeshing gears J 7 J Theblock J carries at its lower side a triangular plate j, secured theretoby means of a set-screw]. J ournaled at the cdrners of the plate j, bymeans of suitable studs extending upwardly into the plate, arechainguiding rolls j j jt The plate j is provided with three holes j jat equal radial distances from the set-screw 7", and adapted to engagewith one of these holes is a pin j (see Fig. 5,) extending downwardlythrough a hole in the block J. By loosening the set-screw j and removingthe pin 3' the plate j may be revolved on the screw 3' as a pivot tochange the position of the guiding-rolls 9' 9' 9' and thereby alter theshape of the path of the chain for a purpose which will be explainedhereinafter.

The chain L passes over the rolls j j j and sprocket-wheel K and hasconnected thereto the frames I, so that the frames travel with the chainas it is driven by the sprocketwheel K. The path traveled by the chainis of the same general shape as the article to be cut out, and as thepivot for the arm D is in line with the chain and also in axialalinement with the rod 6 of the knife-carrier the chain will cause theknife-carrier to move in a similar path. In order to confine the pivotof the arm D to a certain fixed path and prevent deviations therefrom onaccount of the flexibility of the chain, I provide fixed guides tocooperate with the guide-roller i on the frame I. These guides consistof the plate j against which the roller 1' bears while the knife ispassing around the toe of the pattern-plate, internal side guides M,secured to and extending between the blocks J J (see Fig. 7,) andexternal side guides N, secured to the bottom of the guide-rails J J.(See Fig. 4.) In pass ing around the large sprocket-wheel K the chain issupported by the face of the wheel and no guide for the roller 7? isfound necessary.

The knife-carrier, under the tension of the spring, can moveindependently of the frame D, as has been stated, to cause the knife tofollow the curvilinear outline of the pattern, and it will be evidentthat within limits variations may be made in the size or form of thepattern-plate without changing the shape of the path traveled by thechain.

In order to provide for a wider variation in the form or size of thearticle to be cut out and to enable patterns of widely-differing size tobe used in the machine, I provide means for adjusting the blocks J Jcarrying the supporting-rolls for the chain, to thereby adjust the pathof travel of the knife-carrier to correspond approximately to theoutline of the pattern used.

Attached to the blocks J J are flexible cords or chains M M the cord Mpassing directly to a winding-shaft M at the rear of the frame A and thecord M passing over a guiding-pulley M at the front of the frame andthen rearwardly to the winding -shaft M The shaft M is provided with ahandle M by means of which it may be turned to wind up the cords M M andthereby move the blocks J J simultaneonslyin opposite directions. A pawlM engaging ratchet-teeth on a disk M secured to the shaft M locks thewindingshaft from backward rotation. As the blocks J J are moved fromone position to another the length of the path traveled by the chainwill be altered, and to allow for corresponding variations in the lengthof the chain I provideachain-tension and take-up device which will nowbe described. Each frame I carries two spring-barrels t looselyjournaled on prevent the stud from turning under the tension of thespring, a flange is formed on the upper end of the stud, and secured tosaid flange by means of a screw i is a block 47, extending upwardlythrough a slot in the upper plate of the frame I. The lower ends of thebarrels i are provided with intermeshing gears i whereby the barrelsmove in unison to take up or let 0E equal amounts on both sections ofthe chain. The chain is guided in its passage from the frame I byguide-rolls i, so situated that the line formed by the two sections ofthe chain passcsthrough the axis of the guide-roll 2' and pivot '21.

In order to preserve the continuity of the internal guides M for theroll i when the blocks J J are adjusted, these guides are composed ofsections 'm m and m, the sections m being secured to the under side ofthe blocks J J 2 and the section m being mounted to slide in the lowersides of the sectionsm m. (See Figs. 4, 5, and 7.) Pins 'm, on thesections m m, extending into a slot cut in the upper side of the sectionm, prevent the endwise separation of the sections m 'm, and a pin mextending upward from the middle point of the section m, prevents saidsection from being abnormally displaced from its central position bystriking against the ends of the sections m m. As the blocks J J areadjusted to difierent positions, the length of the chain passing overthe sprocket-wheel K and guide-rolls 7' j 7' is varied, and it will beevident that for all positions of the blocks j 9' the length of thechain will not be an exact multiple of the length of a link. An ordinarysprocket-wheel having teeth of uniform pitch cannot be used to drivesuch a chain, and I have accordingly devised an improved form ofsprocket-wheel which is adapted to engage and drive a chain whether itslength is an exact multiple of the length of a link or not andregardless of variations in the pitch of the chain due to wear or othercause. One form of this sprocket-wheel is illustrated in Figs. 15 and16, wherein is shown a sprocket-wheel provided with yielding teetharranged to be depressed below the rim of the wheel and spaced atvarying distances apart. As shown, the teeth consist of beveledprojections on blocks is, seated in radial recesses in the wheel K andpressed outwardly by springs k, surrounding stems k projecting inwardlyfrom the blocks. The springs are seated in the recesses and bear againstthe inner side of the blocks, the outward movement of the blocks beinglimited by laterally-projecting pins k? on the inner ends of the stems kengaging slots in the wheel K. The teeth are irregularly spaced aboutthe periphery of the wheel and are preferably so arranged that thedistance between successive teeth in a group increases from the first tothe last tooth in the group. The five teeth at the upper right-hand sideof Fig. 15 are shown so arranged. The teeth of the sprocket-wheel areadapted to engage notches in the chain L formed by the intervals betweenthe blocks Z and by recesses cut inthe inner face of each block. I Thesenotches are preferably spaced at uniform distances apart to give thechain a definite pitch, although it will be evident that they might beirregularly spaced, in which case the teeth of the sprocket-wheel couldbe spaced at uniform distances apart, if desired.

The presser-foot O, to which the patternplate H is secured, is carriedat the lower end of a rod 0', extending upwardly through the hollowsleeve 13 and supported therein by the projecting flange O resting onthe upper endof the sleeve. Bearing against the upper end of the rod 0is the coiled spring 0 the upper end of which is seated against a plate0, adjustable vertically by means of the screws 0 to vary the tension ofthe spring on the rod. The frame of the presser-foot has twoupwardly-extending projections P P, which enter guiding-slots cut in thecasting co, the upper end of the projection P being notched at its innerside. The side of the casting ct is also provided with a notch a leadinginto the guiding-slot for the projeca and by then moving it to theright, as

viewed in Fig. 4, and then laterally at right angles, the notched upperend of the projection P passing through the notch or.

R designates the platen, between which and the presser-foot O the workis clamped during the action thereon of the cutting-knives. The platenis formed or provided with a suitable outting-surface and is adapted tobe raised and lowered by a toggle-lever, the upper arm R of which ispivoted to the stem R of the platen, sliding in a vertical bearingformed in the lower front portion of the machine-frame. The lower arm Rof the togglelever is pivoted at the lower part of the base of themachine and is provided with a horizontally-extending treadle R by meansof which the toggle may be straightened and: the platen R raised. As ameans for lockin g j the toggle-lever in its straightened position Iprovide the lower arm of the lever with a sliding catch rod R mounted inlugs projecting from the arm and pressed upwardly by a springsurrounding the rod, having one end bearing against the lower lug of thelever and the other end bearing against an adjustable collar R clampedto the rod. The upward movement of the rod is limited by a collar Rclamped to the rod, engaging the upper lug on the lever. The upper endof the rod engages a bracket 1 on the base A to lock the toggle-lever inits straightened position. A treadle R pivoted to the arm R and to thelower end of the rod, serves to release the rod to free thetoggle-lever, which is then moved to lower the platen by a springsecured to the lower arm R of the lever and having its free end engagingthe upper arm B when the lever is in its straightened posi= tion.

Means are providedwhereby a movement of the toggle-lever beyond itsstraightened position will start the machine into operation. The maindriving-shaft S is mounted in the upper part of the base of the machineand is provided with the fast and loose pulleys SS A belt S passes overthe loose pulley S and over the pulley B on the shaft B, from which theoperating parts of the machine are actua ted by the connectionshereinbefore described. S designates a clutch-operating lever pivoted tothe base of the machine, one arm of which engages the collar of a clutchof any suitable construction for connecting the loose pulley to thedriving-shaft. An arms of this lever extends through an opening in thebase of the machine and has connected thereto a springs, which acts onthe lever to move the the upper part of the base A.

clutch to disconnect the loose pulley from the driving-shaft S.

Pivoted on the bracket V in, a position to be actuated by thetoggle-lever is a bell-crank lever 8 and connecting the horizontal armof this bell-crank with the end of the arm 5 isa rod 8 The vertical armof the bell-crank is provided with an adjustable screw 8 with which theupper projecting lug on the togglearm R is adapted to engage. When thetoggle-lever is in its straightened position, the lug is out ofengagement with the vertical arm of the bell-crank; but as thetoggle-lever is swung by its straightened position the lug engages thescrew .9 and thereby actuates the bell-crank to pulldown the arm 8through the connecting-rod s to actuate the clutch and connect the loosepulley S to the driving-shaft S. The arm 5 is locked in its loweredposition by a locking-pawl s pivoted to the outer end of the arm andadapted to engage a projection s on the base A. By the above-describedconstruction it will be seen that the toggle-lever is first straightenedto raise the platen R to clamp the Work and then given a furthermovement to'throw the machine into operation. Ordinarily the operatorcan control the movement of the togglelever to first clamp the work andthereafter if the work is properly positioned to throw the machine intooperation. As a safety device to prevent the toggle-lever being movedsufficiently to throw the machine into operation until the work isproperly positioned, however, I provide a pivoted latch 8 extending intothe path of the lever to form a stop for the lever when it reaches itsstraightened position. When it is desired to give the lover a furthermovement, this latch is turned back out of the way.

At the end of the cutting operation the loose pulley S may be unclutchedfrom the driving-shaft S and the machine stopped by lifting thelocking-pawl s to release the arm of the clutch-operating lever by meansof a handle attached thereto. I prefer, however, to stop the machineautomatically at the end of the cutting operation by means which willnow be described.

T designates a lever pivoted on the under side of the block J one arm ofwhich extends iuto the path of the guide-roll 11 on the frame I and theother arm of which is adapted to contact with an arm T on a shaft Tjournaled at the side of the overhanging head of the machine-frame. Themovement of the lever T in one direction is limited by a stoppin t onthe lever contacting with the edge of the block J The shaft T isprovided with an arm T connecting by means of a rod T with one arm of abell-crank lever T pivoted to the frame of the machine, the other arm ofwhich is connected to one end of a spring-pressed rod T", mounted toslide in This rod bears against the locking-pawl s and is moved,

the driving-shaft S, the shaft B will rotate and through the bevel-gearsB 13 and tubular shaft B will rotate the large gear-wheel B The gear B7,meshing with the pinions B at the upper ends of the short verticalshafts I), will give a rapid movement of rotation thereto, and fromthese shafts vertical reciprocating movements will be given to thecutting-knives through the cranks b, links 22 and bell-crank levers 5The sprocketwheel K, engaging the chain I will be driven at a relativelyslow rate of speed from the shaft B through the worm-gear J worm J shaftJ, and gears J J As the chain L travels it will rotate the arms 0 on thepivots and at the same time move the frames D about their pivotalconnections with the arms 0 to cause those parts of the frames D formingthe pivotal supports of the lmife-carriers to travel in a pathcorresponding to the path of the chain. Each knife-carrier as a wholewill thus move in a path corresponding to that of the chain, and as itthus moves the cuttingknife will be caused to travel in a pathcorresponding to the article to be cut out by the engagement of theguiding-block f with the edge of the pattern-plate II. The knife-carrierswings about the rod 6 as a pivot under the action of the spring g tokeep the guidingblock f in contact with the edge of the pattern-plate,and the swivel mounting of the knife in its carrier enables the block fto turn the knife on its axis to keep its edge parallel with the outlineof the pattern.

I The knife-carrier has a continuous movement in a plane parallel to thework, and it is evident thatif the knife were rigidly-mounted in thecarrier it would be dragged through the work while in engagementtherewith. To avoid this action," I mount the knife so as to be capableof a limited horizontal movement independent of the carrier while inengagement with the work. In the construction hereinbefore describedthis independent movement of the knife is permitted by the springpressedpin f When the knife is out of engagement with the work, it will be heldin the position shown in Figs. '13 and 14: and will travel with thecarrier. As the knife enters the work it will be stopped thereby, andduring the continued movement of the carrier the knife will be pressedback against the pin 7, which will yield to allow a relativemovement'between the knife and carrier, there being, sufficient playbetween the blocks a e and the carrier-arm c to permit this movement}:As the knife rises from the work it will beflre turned to its originalposition by the spring pin f.

In cuttingfout soles with pointed toes the plate j, carrying thechainguiding rolls j j j, will be in the position shown in Fig. 7; butwhen it is desiredto cut out soles with broad or square toes the "plateis rotated on the screw j to bring the'rollsj j at the end of the pathtraveled by tliei chain and locked in position by the pin 7' The path ofthe chain is thus made to conform more nearly to the general outline ofthe articl'e'to be cut out.

To separate the blocks J 'J and thereby lengthen the path of travel ofthe chain, the winding-shaft M is rotated by means of the handle M thechain antomaticallya'djusting itself to its new path as the blocksare'drawn apart by the cords M M When the pawl M is raised from theratchet-teeth of thedisk M the blocks will be drawn toward eachother bythe tension exerted on the chain by the tension and take-up devices.

The machine above described is provided with two cutting-knivessupported from two independently-swinging arms or supports. It is to beunderstood, however, that my invention is not limited to this specificarrangement, as a. greater or less number of knives might be provided.It is also to be understood that my invention, considered in its broaderaspects, is not limited to a construction in which each knife is carriedby an independent support. \Vhile I consider a construction embodying areciprocating knife as being the best, I do not consider my inventionlimited as to some of its more generic features to such construction, assuch features may be used in connection with the usual form ofdrag-knife or other forms and arrangements of the knife without anymaterial departure therefrom.

While I have illustrated and described a chain composed of two sectionswith tension and take-up devices interposed between the ends of thesections, it is to be understood that other means might be employed toallow the chain to adjust itself to the length of the path to hetraveled thereby without departing from the spirit of my invention.

- Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, arotary support, a frame pivoted thereto, a knife-carrier movably mountedon said frame, a reciprocating knife mounted in said carrier andmechanism for actuating the knife and frame, substantially as described.Y

2. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, arotary support, a frame pivoted thereto, a knife-carrier pivoted to saidframe, a reciprocating knife mounted IIO in said carrier,and mechanismfor actuating the knife and frame, substantially as described.

ent mechanism for actuating said frame, substantially as described.

5. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, aplurality of independent rotary supports mounted on a common center, aframe movably mounted on each support, a reciprocating knife carried byeach frame, and mechanism for actuating the knives and frames,substantially as described.

6. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, arotary support, a frame pivoted thereto, a reciprocating knife carriedby said frame, ashaft concentric with the pivot of the frame, actuatingdevices connecting said shaft and knife, mechanism for rotating saidshaft and mechanism for actuating said frame, substantially asdescribed.

7. A machine for cutting sheet material,

having, in combination, a rotary support, a

frame pivoted thereto, a knife carried by said frame, a pattern, aknife-guide arranged to bear against the edge of said pattern, and meansfor actuating said frame to cause the knife and its guide to travelalong the pattern, substantially as described.

8. A machine for cutting-sheet material, having, in combination, arotary support, a frame pivoted thereto, aspring-pressed knifecarrierpivoted to said frame, a knife mounted in said carrier, a pattern, aknife-guide arranged to bear against the edge of said pattern, and meansfor actuating said frame to cause the knife and its guide to travelalong the pattern, substantially as described.

9. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, arotary support, a frame movably mounted thereon, a reciprocating knifecarried by said frame, mechanism for actuating said knife, and atraveling chain, for actuating said frame, substantially as described.

10. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, arotary support, a frame movably mounted thereon, a knife carried by saidframe, and mechanism for actuating and guiding said frame having provision for adjustment for varying the path traveled by the knife,substantially as described.

11. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, arotary support, a

frame movably mounted thereon, a knife-carrier movably mounted on saidframe, a knife mounted in said carrier, a pattern for guiding the knife,and mechanism for actuating and guiding said frame having provision foradjustment for varying the path traveled by the knife-carrier,substantially as described.

12. A machine for cutting sheet material, havingin combination,aknife-carrier, a traveling chain for actuating said carrier,guiding-rolls at one end of the chain-path and means for changing therelative position of said rolls to alter the shape of the chain-path,substantially as described.

13. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, aknife-carrier, a knife mounted to reciprocate and move laterallytherein, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantially asdescribed.

14. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, aknife-carrier, a knife mounted to reciprocate and move laterallytherein, mechanism for reciprocating the knife, and a spring for movingit laterally, substantially as described.

15. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, aknife-carrier, a swiveling knife mounted to reciprocate and movelaterally therein, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantiallyas described.

16. In a machine for cutting sheet material, a knife-carrier having incombination, a cylindrical casing mounted upon a hollow stud, an armprojecting from said casing, a rod reciprocating through said hollowstud, an arm projecting from said rod and a knife mounted in said arms,substantially as described.

17. In a machine for cutting sheet material, a knife-carrier having incombination, a eylind rical casing mounted upon a hollow stud, an armprojecting from said casing, a rod reciprocating through said hollowstud, an arm projecting from said rod, a knife mounted in said arms, anda spring-barrel mounted upon the stud and engaging the casing,substantially as described.

18. In a machine for cutting sheet material, a knife-carrier having, incombination, a cylindrical casing mounted upon a stud, an arm projectingtherefrom, a knife mounted in said arm, a spring for swinging the casingabout the stud, and a locking device carried by the casing and engaginga recess in the stud for locking the casing against the action of thespring, substantially as described.

19. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, aknife-carrier, an endwise-traveling chain for actuating said carrier,means for varying the length of the path traveled by the chain, andmeans for varying the length ofthe chain, substantially as described.

20. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, aknife-carrier, an endwise-traveling chain for actuating said carrier,means for varying the length of the path traveled by the chain, and atension and take-up device for automatically varying the length of thechain, substantially as described.

21. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, apresser-foot provided with guiding projections, a stationary blockprovided with slots engaged by said projections, and a slot extendingtransversely thereto so arranged that the presser-foot can be disengagedfrom theblock by being moved sidewise in said first-mentioned slots, andthen at an angle thereto, substantially as described.

22. A machine'for, cutting sheet material, 15 having, in combination, aknife-carrier, an endwise-traveling chain for actuating said carrier,means for varying the length of the path traveled by the chain, andmeans for automatically varying the length of the chain, 20substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES J. BREACH.

\Vit nesses:

FRED O. FISH, ALFRED H. HILDRETH.

